Insights on Communication Skills and Relationship Building

Mental Floss has some hilarious help for your professional communication skills.

Mispronunciations happen. We all have a friend that orders "expresso", or enjoys eating lunch at "ChipoL-te". But paying attention to correct pronunciation is important to all of your professional communication skills- whether or not you are giving a professional presentation at the time. Attention to pronunciation polishes your professional presence- it shows time, attention, and diligence.

The folks at Mental Floss have scored again with this great video outlining some very common mispronunciations, including a slew of pop culture references to keep you from having an Adele Dazeem moment. Watch the video, have a laugh, and then join us for a few quick tips after wards:

When it comes to pronunciation:

1. Be aware of what is a regionalism, and what is just wrong: Sure, in New York, Houston St. is pronounced "How-ston", while in Texas, the same word is clearly pronounced "Hyoo-ston". That's different strokes for different folks by region. However, there is no region where "expresso" or "Horz-dee-oovrays" exist.

2. It's OK to be wrong: No one is perfect, but if you discover your pronouncing something incorrectly, be willing to change it! It doesn't help to defend a pronunciation that is just wrong. We live in a world where audible pronunciation resources are a click away. Let your fingers do the walking and type a questionable word or phrase into an on line dictionary.

3. Take your time: Sometimes, accidental mispronunciations can happen with rushed or lazy speech. Take you time, remember your articulation, and you'll be sure to avoid accidentally garbling important names or terms.